Casinos Push for Remote Registration On Mobile Sports Betting Accounts in Nevada
The biggest operators in the gambling industry in Nevada are pushing for a fully remote registration of mobile sports betting account in the state. Currently, the state regulations require those registering for the same to pay a visit to the physical casino sportsbook so that ID verification and paperwork including entry of social security numbers can be done in person.
In a meeting of the Nevada Gaming Control Board which was held on Tuesday, major gambling operators including Wynn, MGM Resorts, and Caesars Entertainment testified in favor of the remote registration and verification of mobile sports betting accounts. The special meeting was called by the board to discuss the changes proposed by the casinos.
MGM Resorts counsel, Mark Russell, said that the casinos believe remote registration and verification is possible with the advancements in technology. He added that the current practice where the patron has to physically go to the casino sportsbook to register and open a sports betting account is not an “exclusive way to provide confidence” that the person who registered online and the person who is wagering are the same individuals.
Mike Alonso, an attorney who spoke on behalf of Caesars, also said that the remote verification technology to be used, should their proposal be accepted and implemented, is “reliable, safe, and secure.”
Not all casinos in favor of remote registration
Even though the major players are pushing for remote registration, not all casinos in Nevada are in favor of the proposed change. According to Scott Nielson, a spokesperson for the Nevada Resort Association, the group supports the current state regulations which require in-person registration and verification. Nielson himself worked for many years at Station Casinos, a casino which supports in-person requirement.
He added that the members of Nevada Resort Association are comfortable with the current legislation. They believe that casinos can sign up individuals in premises for a wagering account if they go through a comprehensive marketing plan process.
No action was taken on Tuesday’s meeting by the Nevada Gaming Control Board. According to chairwoman Becky Harris, the stakeholders will continue their discussion at a later date.
Ever since PASPA was repealed and sports betting was legalized in all states by the US Supreme Court earlier this year, Nevada has been facing an increasing number of issues that challenge its dominance in the country’s gambling market. With revenue generated from sports betting by other states increasing, these challenges are expected to rise.
